Feedeeick muhl and john s



(NoMddeL) v P. MUHL & J. S. CARSON.

MATTRESS. No. 319,419. Patented June 2, 1885.

a; A a

iag L arena FFiCEO FREDERICK MUHL AND JOHN S. CARSON, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, PA.

MATTRESS.

EEEPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,419, dated June 2,1885.

Application filed February 6, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK MUHL and JOHN S. CARSON, of Allegheny City, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mattresses; and we do hereby declare the following to'be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is aplan view of ourim proved bed when unfolded. Fig. 2 is asimilar view of the same when it has been folded. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged View of a part of the bed, showing the mechanism for folding it. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the hinge. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section 011 the line mm of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an end perspective View of Fig. 5.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

Our improved mattress consists of two parts, A and A, which are hinged together, as shown in the drawings. Each part consists of an open quadrilateral frame, by which we mean that there are three side pieces or bars, a a, joined together at right angles, there being one side of the frame open and with no side bar, though one may be put there, if desirable. The two parts A A thus formed are joined together with theiropen sides adjacent by double hinges B B, which are made solid and withoutintermediate joint. The construction and arrangement of these hinges are peculiar. Theinner corners of the opposite ends of each of the end pieces, a, are recessed or cut away rectangularly, as at ed, for the re ception of the hinge-block B,whioh is set within these recesses. Lateral pintles 0 connect the hinge-block B with the tongues of each of the opposite end bars, a, formed by the recesses or offsets a The sides of the hingeblocks B, which bear against the ends of the rails a, are curved at the top and preferably straightened at the bottom,while the bearingends of the bars aare squared, as shown in the drawings. The consequence is that when the two parts A A are open, as in Fig. 1, the squared faces of the end rails, a,will be in en gagement with the squared portions of the hingcblock B, and the mattress cannot be opened further, although they may be folded together on their pintles into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 8 with ease.

As before mentioned, each end of the mattress-frame is connected by a hinge, B, and to secure greater strength and rigidity it is braced by a bar, D,which extends. lengthwise underneath the frame, and is bolted to each of'the hinge-blocks by bolts (1.

Blocks D are preferably interposed betwee the hinge-blocks B and the brace D, so as to keep the latter below the level of the hinges and to prevent its interference with the unfolding of the bed.

Thus arranged, the frame A A is provided with a woven-wire mattress,E, made in asingle piece, secured in the usual way to the six side bars, a and a, and is clamped thereto by means of an exterior strip, F, which is fast ened to the frame. The wire fabric is preferably applied to the frame with its strands lengthwise and parallel with the line of folding of the frame. The result is that when the frame is folded there will be no undue strain upon the fabric,which will fold together neatly and without sagging. If it be attempted to fold such a mattress crosswise of the fabric, it will bag and make an unwieldlyand inconvenient bundle. This difficulty is overcome by the change in the direction of folding above noted.

The level of the sides of the frame is about equal to or a little higher than that of the hinge-blocks B B, so that it is desirable to provide means for enabling the mattress to be folded without bunching or bendingthe wire at the hinges. This is done in the manner shown in Fig. 4, by separating the mattress fabric at points 0 inside the hinge-blocks B B and on the folding-line of the mattress, and carrying the outer strands thence in an angular direction to the end bars, a, where they are fastened. There is thus left a small V- shaped space at each end of the center of the frame and over the center of each of the hinges, which is vacant of wire. The result is that when the bed is folded the turning of the frames on the pintles G will not carry that part of the wire fabric adjacent to the hingeblocks down below their level, so as to bend or break it. The parts so cutaway are small,

and will not interfere with the efiicieney of the bed when in use.

The connecting-brace D, being situate below the level of the hinges, cannot interfere with the folding of the mattress. Its situation under the hinge-blocks B B renders it of great convenience, because when the frameis folded the brace will lie along the edge of the package without projecting therefrom, so as to interfere with the ease of transportation which our invention provides. We regard the em-. ployment of the brace D as one of the important features of our invention. It serves as a common rail for both parts of the mattressframe, and serves to strengthen the latter along the line of the greatest strain. Ithas been estimated that the tensilestrength of a stretch ed wire mattress upon its'frame amounts to several horse-power, and it is the difficulty in restraining this force which has hitherto proved an insuperable obstacle to the manufacture of a practicable folding bed of this sort. We have endeavored to make one without the use of the central brace, D, but have found that the open sections of the frame would break asunder almost immediately. When the brace is employed, all such danger is obviated without materially increasing the size or weight of the mattress.

The especial features of advantage in the peculiar form of hinge B which we have shown are, first, that it enables us to employ a single connecting-brace of the nature described 5 and, second, that the connection of the frame-sections to a single block by separate pintles allows the folding of the bed without entanglement of the opposite sides of the fabric. It also causes the curve of the fleXion in the middle of the fabric to be gradual, and not sharp enough to strain the wires.

In order the more perfectly to keep the sections of the frame a little separate, the side rails, a, maybe provided with upturned lips G, which engage each other when folded. (See Fig. 3.) The opposite and under sides of these bars may also be provided with feet which are on the same level as the bottom of the brace D, and permit the bed to be unfolded 'and spread upon an even surface.

We do not claim to have invented the mode of folding woven -wire-mattresses longitudinally with the fabric, nor the peculiar form of hinge hereinshown; but

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

A woven-wire mattress, in combination with.

a frame to which it is secured, when the frame is made 'in several. sections, hinge-blocks for connecting the same, said hinge-blocks being connected with each of the adjacent sections by a separate pintle, and a-brace situate beneath the mat-tress fabric and connecting said hinge-blocks, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 31st day of January, A. D. 1885.

FREDERICK MUHL. JOHN S. CARSON.

Witnesses:

THOMAS W. BAKEWELL, W. B. CORWIN. 

